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v J. W. BRYCE.

MASTER CLOCK.

v APPLICATION FILED AUG-24, 1920. 1,390,018. I PatentedSept. 6, 1921.

4 SHEE1SSHEET 2.

WI! r v 1 l E h "Mum E um W-BRYCE.

MASTER CLQCK.

, APPLICATION FILED AUG|24| I920- 1,390,018, PatentedSept. 6, 1921.

4 sums-sum J. W. BRYCE;

MASTER CLOCK.

APPLICATION man AUG-24, 1920.

Patented Sept. 6,1921.

4 $HEETSSHEET 4.

' JAMES 7W.BRYCE, OFFVIBINGHAMTON, 'NEwYoRx, ASSIGNOR orrie inrnaiiATro'NAL TIME nncoanmecomram' oi NEwYoRx, A compan on or NEW YORK.

uAs'rsn-c ocx.

Tocl l concern 1 v Be it known thatQI, JAMES BRYCE,

citizen of the United States of America, re-

siding at. Binghamton, gin the county of Broome and State of New York, have in--.

' I vented certain new and useful Improvements in Master-Clocks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention is an improvement in What is known in asynchronous clock system as the master clock; thatis,'a clock which, be-

a ing carefully designed and constructed to keep accurate time, serves to control one or a plurality of secondary clocks, bringing them periodically into exact synchronismwith itself, shouldcthey forany-reason gain or lose time. In the commercial systems to which the invention is mainly applicable the masterclock is called upon to do but little beyond keeping true time while loads of varying character are imposed upon the secondaries, making them liable to fast? or slow running, whichjit is the function; of 0c should be selfecontrolling, its rewinding} should in no wise impair or "interfere'withf '1 the master c I y Y It results from ,the nature of the duties which a master clock, in such systems,- is

called upont'o perform,,jthat any accurate I time-piece will be adequate for the purpose,

;but conditions of. use and -operation, make it very desirable that the clock should al-.-

ways take care of itself. In other words,

its time-keeping properties, and its capability for running for indefinite periods without attentionor repair-should be;de-' veloped to the highest degree possible.

In the synchronizing clock system which I have devised, particularly ide'signed and adapted for vthe 'control Tot time-recorders andflike apparatus I have foundit-necessary to design afspecially constructed master clock to meet all of the conditiens'jof use and.

-=,operation which such systemsimpose', and.

the clock which Ifshall hereinafter describe isthe; commercial form of instrument which has been devised and adopted for general q ir men suse as the best underall circumstancesv that the most carefulexperimentsan s ha resulted :in producing. The Y improvements,

, while not of a radical character,-havebeenfound to be thoroughly practical andfully capable-cf: meeting the most exact ng reitpncaaornieuugm 24,;.192o. Seria1 No.405,60 7

'ofFigz'fi. w

Fig. 8 is a detailof certain contacts, and Figs. andjlO are circuitor Wiring dia sition. 1-], Secured to I specmcsao 'oi Letters race. I v P at ft d 9 6 1921 I These improvements consistzFirst, of a means for mounting or supporting the-windingmotor in the clock ina manner that will deaden the 110188 when it; is operating: to

rewind the clock; second, of a means for 1mp art1'ng power to the clock driving train dur ng the operation of winding up the weights which are-employed as the source of motive power of the clock, whereby such train Wlll be kep t 1nv operation during the lnterval of wlndlng without resort to the supplementary springs-which have hereto fore been adopted for this purpose; and,

third, in'certain details of; mechanism which distinguish the clock. I 7 These improvements-I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1v isa view in front elevation of the I complete instrument;

; Fig. 2 is a side view of the'same.

F 1g. 3 is a detail *ofa switchlmechanism.

.Fign/i is a top plan view of the same. a part. sectional View. of :the winding mechanism.

.Fig, 6 isasecti'onal viewvof Fig. 5on the line 66 of that figure. 1

f Fig. 5' is a side and Fig. 7 is asectionalview on the'c line,7 j

The entire clock r'nechanis m is, mounted on a bed'platelw The clock train or mecha-- nism proper, is contained in frame 2 1 which is securedjito the bed plate 1 by suita-ble'posts ,3, *Fig. v 2, whil'e,the winding drumi 4t and the motor5, together with the intermediate winding mechanism, are 'independ-Y entl-y mounted on said bed, plate, so that, 1 either the clock proper or the winding mech- *anism.may be removed, if necessary, withoutinterferencel one jwith the other; j

Thefmotor 5is,provided ywithlegs iiite- .gral with which'are twocross plates (iWltll -perforations near 'the r' ends, andth'ese, are I placed over {our standards or posts covered'withrubber; tubing. Soft rubber washers or bushings 8, in 1or-a gainst-the plates 6,

areemployed which, under: the pressure of i,

hold the motor in its proper normal p0 worm wheel engaging with the motor shaft, and this wheel drives a spindle 11, which imparts rotation to a spindle 12 by means of a cylindrical coupling 13 made preferably of some sound-deadening material, having longitudinal slots in its ends which engage with pins let in said two spindles. The spindie 12 engages with a worm wheel 15 connected to the winding drum at, so that by the rotation of the motor this drum is revolved.

This connection compensates for any change in the position of the motor, which not being rigidly mounted, could not impart movement to the drum otherwise than by this or some equivalent flexible connection.

The plan adopted for mounting the motor operates as a sound insulator, so that when it is operated for rewinding the clock it does not make the disagreeable noise which it otherwise would.

Referring now to Fig. 5: The worm wheel 15, re olved by the winding motor, is carried by the shaft of the winding drum In the said wheel 15 is eccentrically mounted the bearing for a short shaft 16 that carries at one end a pinion 17 and at the other a similar pinion 18. The shaft 16 turns freely in its bearing and as the drum rotates under the influence of the weight 19, gear teeth on the inner edge of the drum engaging with the pinion 17, rotate said shaft and thereby impart rotation through pinion 18 to a pinion 20 on the shaft of the worm wheel 15 and constituting one member of the clock driving train. So long, therefore, as the worm wheel 15 is stationary, the clock is driven in this manner.

When the motor is started to wind the clock, worm wheel 15 is revolved and this carries around with it the shaft 16 with its two pinions, but in order to rotate the drum and thereby windup or lift the weights, a counter-pressure must be brought to'bear by the turning of the key'or other winding mechanism on the pinion 18 geared to the clock train, which,.being imparted to the train, keeps the clock in motion during the entire interval of winding. This force may be slightly greater than that imparted by the weights acting alone but not so much greater as to produce any appreciable eifect upon the rate of the clock for the relatively short interval during which it is exerted.

At predetermined intervals the clock is automatically rewound, such intervals being usually forty-four hours apart. The means for doing this are not new to the present case but are shown in Fig. 6. In this figure a disk 21 on the winding drum has a single tooth that engages with teeth in a segmental plate 22 and by each complete revolution of the disk 21 this plate is advanced the space of one tooth.

The plate 22 carries a pin 23 that engages a pivoted lever 24 and as the clock runs down this lever is shifted to an extent that causes it to operate a switch with contacts 25 in the winding motor circuit. As the drum is rotated in the opposite direction by the motor the plate 22 is turned back to restore the lever 24: to its normal position, and in this movement said lever throws the switch again and opens said contacts when the weights have been wound. Under the circumstances a more specific description of this mechanism is not required, as it is a well know device in this art.

Should it become necessary for any reason to remove the clock train and its frame, the winding drum would be left free to rotate and the weights would immediately fall. It is necessary therefore to provide means for preventing this and such means is shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 7. On the shaft of the winding drum is mounted a double plate 26 having pins 27 that engage with slots in a lever 28 pivoted to a stationary support. Normally the outside part of plate 26 is held by a screw 29, Fig. 1, but by loosening this crew the plate may be turned by hand, by which means the lever 28 is depressed and its end broughtinto position to engage with the teeth of a wheel 30 on the drum shaft. The drum is in this way locked so that the cords or wires cannot unwind and allow the weights to drop.

The clock has certain special functions to perform, one of which is to connect a source of current with the circuit containing the secondary clocks for definite periods, usually fifteen minutes during each hour. Another function is to provide means to insure the proper operation of such devices as are employed for this purpose in case of interruption of the circuit during such periods and to render their operation more exact as to time, and these means are illustrated, chiefly,

in Figs. 8 and 9. Referring to Figs. 3 and 4: On the hour shaft are two cams 31 and 32 that control the pivoted levers 33 and 34:. The lever 33 carries an insulating plate 35 to which is attached a metal plate 37 carrying contact points. The other lever 3 1 carries an insulating plate 36 to which is secured a metal plate 38 also having twov contact points between which plate 37 oscillates. Normally the plate 37 lies midway ietween the two contact points 39 but at fifteen minutes of the hour the lever 33 is shifted,

throwing its left-hand contact onto the cor- On the minute arbor is a cam 40 which at a given instant once each minute brings to- 1 I. g lr two contact spring The'pu pos'e of this willbe explalnedby referenceito Wiring diagrams. j

,InQFig. 9 the source of current iscon nected to terminals 42, andone, lofthese terminals gislconnected, say, ,with the righthand contact .39 and the, other with. thejlefta I hand contact39, ,through-aresistance 43'. j

, sumed thereforethat the latter contacts are made a trifle beforefifteen minutes of the residesin the fact that the contacts 41 opinterruption of the circuit should occur dur- The, contact on lever, 33 is connected by ,a;

wire 47 to the. two contacts. 41 and thence to, one terminal of a relay. 4 6, the other .termi nal of which, is -c0nnectedto;the right-hand terminal 142 throughthe; resistance 43. The left-hand terminal -42 isalso connectedto, the armature 44 of the relay46, which con-' trolsa breakin the. clo k circuit 45;; y

.The contacts 41 controlled by the minute arbor .close moreexactl on time, or wlll probabl do so,'than the arger contacts con-@- trolled yleverS 33 and 34. Let it be ashour and broken a trifle after the even hour. Nothing will result from such makes and breaks however, until the contacts41 are closed on the exact time. When, therefore,

contacts 41 are closed they find atjfifteen minutes of the hour, the contact on lever 33 againstthe left-hand contact 39. Current from the source will therefore flow through the resistance 43through the relay 46 and back to the opposite pole of the source through the connection 47 and the contact or lever 34. The relay being thus energized attracts its armature and connects the source directly with the line '45, but at the same time it com letes the circuit through the resistance, t e relay and the armature. of the relay, so that the armature; remains closed although the contacts 41 separate.

p This condition existsuntil the lever 34. is shifted to bringthe contact on lever 33 and the right-hand contact 39 together. This results in short-circuiting the rela coil, whereupon its armature} falls bac' and breaks the circuit connection to, line.

The great advantage of this arrangement erate everyzminute to pickup and restore the operative conditions, 1n case that any ing 1 the fifteen minute period, and this is depended upon. .For this purpose I use the manifestly mostimportant as a safeguard.

To adapt the clock for operation on either alternating or direct currents, is practically necessary, as in: many systems one kind of current is available, perhaps during the dag, while the factory plant is running, while t e other is the only available source, as at night, whenthe municipal plant has'to be circuit arrangement shown in Fig.- 10.

I In this figure 48 is arelay acrossthe cir-- *cuit from-the source, this relay havinga very high inductance sothatit. is not appreciabl affected. by an alternating cur-' rent. 0 a continuous current, however, it

33 be moved to the left, the current, if contlnuous, and hence energizing the relay 48,

passes ,by the .wire 49 to and through the resistance43 and thence by wire 50 through theupper contact to one of the armatures 51 of-the relay; 48,.thence, to the left-handcone tact .39, and thence through :the contact onlever 34, back tot-the source. When contacts 41 are brought together thepath fo a'current is completed through wire 47,. contacts 41, the. upper contacts of, another armature; 52 of relay 48,.relay 46:.and wire 55v t0v the source.- The relay 46-attracts its armature 44: and this connects the source directly: with the lineithrough awire 53 and the whole.

of an inductive resistance 54.

I Should the current of the source,;however, be alternating, the relay 48 is not on ergized, and thecircuit from the left-hand is ,fully responsive. If, therefore, the, lever as a contact 39 is made through the lower contact and armature5l to a resistance 56 by a wire 60 and thence to the source, while the path from the lever 33 is made through conoperation of the devices and circuits of Fig. "10 is the same as that of Fig. 9.

- The special construction of the clock mechanism proper is not of the essence of this invention which resides in the several accessories to the clock which have been herein set forth. The circuits and circuitcontrolling means herein described are not. claimed herein as these will be made the sub'ect of another application. b V

hat I claim is:, I I 1.'The combination with the bed plate,'a

winding motor having supporting cross plates, posts set in the bed plate passing through holes in said cross-plates, springs bearing on said cross-plates to hold the'motor in position, winding mechanism onthe bed plate and a flexible connection between the same and the motor shaft.

2. The combination with the bed plate, of

stationary posts thereon, a winding motor.

having legs and cross plates which contain perforations through which said posts pass,

spiral springs surrounding the posts and actingto hold the motor in position, intermediate washers of yielding material between the cross-plates and said springs, a

winding mechanism mounted in the bed same and. the motor shaft.

3. In a self windin clock, the combina- 'tion with a weight rum and means for" plate and a flexible connection between the winding the same, of differential gears between the clock train and the weight drum, through which power is imparted to the train while the clock is being rewound.

4. In a self winding clock, the combina tion of a weight drum, a shaft on which said drum is mounted, a winding gear on said shaft, a shaft carried by said gear wheel, and pinions thereon meshing respectively with the drum and with the clock train, whereby power is applied to the train while the drum. is being rewound.

5. In a self winding clock, the combination with a weight drum, a shaft therefor, a worm wheel on and for turning said drum in rewinding the drum, a shaft mounted in said worm wheel and pinions thereon, one engaging with teeth on the inside of the drum, and the other with the clock train.

6. In a weight driven clock, the combination Witha clock train and a winding drum, and winding mechanism independently mounted and geared together, of a normally locked pivoted plate on the winding drum, and means controlled thereby when released and turned to engage with and lock the said winding drum against rotation.

7. In a Weight driven clock, the combination with a clock train, a winding drum and mechanism for operating the same, independently mounted and geared together, a plate mounted on the drum shaft, means for normally locking the same against movement, and a lever adapted to be thrown by the rotary movement of said plate into looking engagement with a wheel on the drum shaft. 1 I

In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my signature.

JAMES W. BRYCE 

